When we are here and use water, our bill is $187.00.   When we are gone and use no water, are bill is $187.00.   If Al was correct that you only pay for what you use, our bill should be more than $187.00 when we are here using water, or less when we are gone and using none.  I believe Norm is correct, you are going to billed for a minimum of 10,000 gallons regardless, and more if you exceed the 10,000 gallons.

I am not complaining.  I understood that there would be a quarterly charge for water and sewer regardless of usage when we bought our home many yeas ago.  However, when you compare the costs here to other areas we have lived, OP is expensive for water and sewer.